“Now the fact that God can make complex good out of simple evil does not excuse — though by mercy it may save — those who do the simple evil.” — C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
Dear Family and Friends,
I fear that this will again be a lengthy update. Events seem to unfold here faster than I can journal and write updates.
Last Monday, I traveled with my close friends, Pavel and Marianela, to Crizantina’s village to visit her family. When we arrived, we explained that we has a designated time to call Crizantina and we swept her mother into the van. We hurriedly drove 30 minutes away to the nearest digital telephone so she could call Crizantina with the prepaid calling cards that I had purchased. I must tell you that it was the best $11 I can remember spending. The mother cried profusely after the call and told us how much she missed and loved her child. She prayed (out loud) all the way back to her village…she was blessing me, my family, the doctors in Chicago, my unborn children, everyone who had given money, all the families in Chicago that had visited, and the list goes on and on. The case manager from the rehabilitation hospital, Joan, wrote me later that day to tell me that Crizantina was crying as well because she missed her mama. Afterwards, she told everyone how happy she was that her mother had called. I praise God that He allowed this blessed event to occur!
I received another email today from Joan telling me that, miracle of miracles, Crizantina was discharged from in-patient care on Friday!! She is now living with a Romanian foster family and will be there for at least a month. It is uncertain when I will return to collect Crizantina and all 4,843 toys that she has accumulated but I will keep you posted! Please remember the foster family in your prayers as they adjust to having a high maintenance child in their midst.
Yesterday, I returned from my trip to Pitesti and Bucuresti. As I previously wrote, I went to provide assistance with the four (I thought three) young women that were sold into prostitution slavery. The fourth, a young woman from Russia, is being deported back to Russia some time this week. I was unable to speak with her because there was no translator and she knows very little Romanian. The only information I had was that the people who “purchased” her from Turkey, (where she was captured) performed an illegal abortion on her in her 7th month of pregnancy and forced her to “work” three days later. It is by the grace of God alone that she is alive.
Without reservation, I can tell you that these young women have stories more horrific than any I have previously heard. The unspeakable acts that they endured would bring tears to the most stoic of individuals. I was shocked to hear that such atrocities happen anywhere in the world let alone Romania. Their nightmares have happened while they were awake and I pray that such evil tales never befall my ears again. I, however, am no longer so naive.
Through the grace of God, I was able to use words to usher one of the young women into the Kingdom of heaven. She has begun the process of understanding and accepting Jesus as her Savior…the only one who can offer her hope in a situation most would consider hopeless. She is two months pregnant with syphilis. She is receiving penicillin shots and God provided me with funds necessary to purchase her prenatal vitamins. We discussed her putting the baby up for adoption by a Christian family and she is open to the idea but wants to think about it over the next few months. I am encouraging her to visit the facility of my friends in Bucuresti, Jan and Kent Greve, who have a spectacular facility for abandoned babies that they adopt through International Care for Children (ICC). This organization does international adoptions cheaper than anyone I know (about $6,000). If you know someone that may be interested, please have them call 1-800-ICC-PRAY for more information.
These young women are barely eating and I left a bit of money for purchasing food. Iana, the women who has acted as a messenger of mercy and taken them into her care, has no funds to provide for them. She is a Christian psychologist that is beyond desperate in her attempts to provide a safe haven for them. One of my email recipients in Columbia has written to pledge a monthly amount to assist with the cost of their care. Praise God for this burden….local people will not allow them to work because they are considered the “w” word…and this is used frequently to their face. In less than a month, they will stand trial against one of the people that ran this organized crime operation. These young women are horrified at the prospect of seeing their perpetrators in court. I continue to plead for your prayers.
Finally, I have all the needed paperwork (thanks to Jan and Kent Greve in Bucuresti…y’all are wonderful)!! They housed me and loaned me one of their employees to get the FINAL piece of paperwork necessary to receive the container in Oradea. If I understand everyone correctly, the container should already be here and perhaps unloaded tomorrow. There are complications with this as I am not taking all the goods to the hospital because I am sure they will be stolen if unloaded there. Consequently, I will be storing the supplies at my church and giving supplies as the need is made evident. The director of the hospital is NOT happy about this and is trying to make the customs procedure difficult for me. PLEASE REMEMBER THIS IN YOUR PRAYERS…THIS COULD MEAN ENORMOUS TAXES FOR ME!!! I am claiming that God is in control and will resolve this tomorrow…Amen!!
The project at the hospital with the babies continues to run smoothly. The children are becoming more alert and responsive to Allie, myself, and the volunteers. Allie has done a beautiful job of winning over the medical staff on the 8th floor. I ask your prayers for Allie as she is suffering from a severe cough/cold. She has developed what I affectionately refer to as the “Romanian crude.”
Thanks to those of you who pray and write me. I am so encouraged by the supportive emails that I receive from complete strangers. God is so good to provide for more than we can ask for or imagine!
Accepting my calling with joy,
Basking in the Son,
Michelle
Posted on June 28th, 1999 by Michelle
Filed under: Michelle's Journal